Integrated Software

With integrated software you start one program and get access to what looks like several programs. In the olden days of text-only interfaces, an integrated set of programs was a big help.

These days a set of integrated programs is usually designed as a 'starter' set for the beginning or casual user. Many advanced features are omitted that might be found in stand-alone products.

For example, the word processor in an integrated software package would not likely have a way to automatically generate a table of contents and would have fewer options on how to handle footnotes, headers, and footers.

Microsoft Works is an example of integrated software, but support for the last version ends 10/9/2012.

Google Docs & Apps and Windows Live Skydrive might be considered examples of integrated software since they can be accessed from a single interface in your browser. They are completely online. The features available are not yet as powerful as what you can do with stand-alone programs.

Purpose:	Providing easy access to several different 'programs' Keeping things simple
Major Advantages:	Lower cost than buying separate programs. Online versions are currently free. Reducing the learning curve for new users

Suites

A software suite is a set of applications which can each stand alone. They can be packaged together for a lower price than if all were bought separately. There are usually enhancements that help the applications communicate with each other, also.

Some popular suites of office software include MS Office, Lotus Smart Suite, WordPerfect Office, OpenOffice, and iWork (for Mac computers).

These include several programs, such as:

• word processing

• spreadsheet

• presentations

• e-mail client

• address book

• database

Purpose:	Simplifying purchasing
Major Advantages:	Reduced cost compared to buying all programs separately Easier to communicate between programs with extra software that comes only with the suite

Computer Types & Applications: Summary

Computers come in many different types and sizes for many different purposes. They are fast, reliable, and can store much more data than we ever expected.

Desktop sizes are the most common but laptops are widely used as well. Tablets, smart phones, and other small sizes are becoming more and more popular.

Today's graphical interfaces make it easy to issue commands to the computer using icons, buttons, and menu.

Servers handle special tasks like email, web sites, and communication and sharing files between computers on a network. Supercomputers perform difficult calculations quickly.

Applications are the programs that we use for most of our tasks. The operating system manages the computer itself. Word processing is the most often used program in the day. The basic word processing skills of typing, selecting, moving, copying, pasting, saving, and deleting are also used in most other programs.

Spreadsheets handle numbers and calculations for data in rows and columns. Databases handle names, addresses, product information, sales records, and other material that is a combination of words and numbers that may need to be sorted or filtered. Graphics programs let you create drawings and animations or manage and enhance photos. Presentations let you show a whole room of people the main points from your speech but also images and charts that explain more than words can.

Communications software connects you to other computers around the world. Browsers connect you to web sites or web pages on your own computer. Email handles your electronic messages. HTML software lets you create your own web pages for all the world to see.

Security software keeps the bad guys from damaging or hijacking your computer for their own evil purposes. Utility software offers ways to safeguard your computer from yourself with back-up software, or just make life easier by automating a lot of the maintenance of your computer.

Integrated software puts the basics together in one package while software suites offer a price break on a collection of programs that work well together.

Quiz: Types & Applications

For each question, click on the radio button beside your answer. You will be notified immediately whether your choice is correct or not. Double clicking may work better.

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1.  The software application that is used the most often is _____.

word processing

desktop publishing

spreadsheet

database

graphical presentation

2.  The largest, fastest, most expensive type of computer is the _____ computer.

personal

server

super

main frame

mini

3. A computer which links several PCs together in a network is called a _____.

minicomputer

server

client

main frame

4. To publish a magazine a ________ application would be best.

word processing

desktop publishing

spreadsheet

presentation graphics

5. Julian is a sales rep calling on up to 20 businesses a week. To keep track of his appointments and his clients' addresses and phone numbers, he should use a _____.

personal information manager

database

spreadsheet

project manager

6. Acme Corp. sells 1000 different products to over 20,000 customers. To record the sales and shipments they would use a _____.

word processor

project manager

spreadsheet

database

7. A single application that combines the major features of several types of applications is called _____.

integrated software

a suite

a combo package

high-end

8. Using a word processor you can change _____.

the size of the font

the typeface

the size of the margins

the spacing between lines

all of the above

none of the above

9. The orientation of the page in which the printed lines run the width (8 1/2") of the page is called _____.

landscape

inverted

normal

portrait

10. Input, processing, output and storage are the steps in the _____.

information cycle

information processing cycle

data cycle

data processing cycle

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